New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1887-11-02
iEihu 3. w ashb ll1ne Dead.
The Former Secretary Of State anc.
Minister to France Breathes
His Last in Chicago.
Review Of Notable and Honorable
i Career Of the Distinguished
Statesman and Diplomat.

The Hon. Elihu B. Washburne, died in
Chicago on Saturday last, at the residence
81 his son, Hampstead Washburne, OF con-
gestion Of the heart and lungs. He had
complained dizziness during the day, and
at four O'Clock, was attacked by acute pain
at his heart, and in few minutes expired.
The deceased had apparently so completely
recovered from his late illness that his sons
and daughters had returend to their homes.
it being the general feeling that he was in bet
ter health than any time since Mrs. Wash
burnes death, and his death was com
plete surprise to his family ard friends
+ The Washburne family came from the
| best Of Revolutionary and Puritan stock,
their ancestor, John Washburne, being the
first secretary OF the Council OF Plymouth
The father OF Elihu 3. Washburne and six
brothers was a native OF Massachusetts
and a resident OF Maine in which latter
state his family was reared. The father,
Israel Washburne, was a farmer and store.
keeper at Livermore, Oxford county,
District OF Maine" where Elihu was
born in September, 1916. There
were seven sons, most OF whom
have attained distinction in political, mil
itary and civil life. The best known OF
! these are Israel Washburne, a member OF
! congress from Maine and governor OF that
state; Caldwallader c. Washburne, mem.
Der OF congress from Wisconsin, major
general in the army and governor OF Wis
consin; and Gen. William D. Washburne,
an ex member Of congress from Minnesota,
| a soldier in tie war, and at present a
prominent miller and railroad magnate OF
Minneapolis. Ofthe seven brothers, Sidney,
Israel and Cadwallader have been dead
some time. The first step taken on his own
| account by Elihu Washburne, after helping
his father in the store for several years,
| was to secure the position OF ''printers
devil'' in the Office OF the Christian Intelli-
! gencer at Gardner, Me-, where he passed a
year. He afterward obtained a better
| position in the Office OF the Kenhebec
journal, the leading Wing organ of the
| district, and it was during this early news
| paper experiences that he imbibed much of
| his political faith and convictions. In
1886 Mr.. Washburne, then a young
entering the Office OF Hon John Otis a dis.
tinguished lawyer and member OF congress,
residing at Ha]lowell, an ''aristocratic"
town in the Maine district. During this
time Mr.. Washburne took up the study of
the languages and applied himself diligent-
ly to his self-education. Judge Otis was
greatly impressed with the faithfulness and
assisted him in various ways, advancing
the money to pay for his attendance at
the Cambridge Law school, where Mr..
Washburne entered in 1889. In the spring
OF 1910 Mr.. Washburne started for
the West, and settled at Galena, III.
He entered with zest into the Har-
rison campaign Of that fall,
and came to the front prominently
as Wing speaker. This active par
4; -, -, T., - kl~k \
earned him good reputation and brought
him considerable practice as a lawyer. In
1914 he was a delegate to the Wing nation
al convention at Baltimore, assisting in
the nomination OF Henry Clay.
! Mr.. Washburne was a leading advocate
| OF the old Galena & Chicago Union road,
! one OF the pioneer stems OF the great North
western system, the first ten miles OF which
! were built in ! S48. During this same year
defeated by Col. Baker. By the aid OF the
| FreeSoilers Mr.. Washburne succeeded four
! years later in defeating Thompson
Campbell, the Democratic candidate,
! by majority of 256. Mr.. Washburne
| was reelected term after term carrying
| the district or going along with it into the
make OF the new Republican party just
previous to the war. The first reelection
| was the result OF II union movement cul-
minating in Republican coalition.
which gavo Mr.. Washburne a majority OF
| 5000. The majority secured in 1860 at
| the time OF his third reelection, was 49,
Sill, the largest majority given any
member OF that congress. On the
floor of the house, and in the i'm
! portant chairmanships held by him
notably OF the committees on appro-
/ priations and commercials. Washburne
1 achieved deserved distinction and gained
/ an enviable reputation for eminent abili-
] ty and strict integrity. He was regarded
/ as perhaps the nearest friend OF President
/ Lincoln. During the civil war Mr.. Wash
| burne was enabled to bestow a great ia.
! vor on Gen. Grant, for whom he enter
tanned strong liking. This favor consist
| ed Of the presidents commission Of senior
brigadier general from Illinois. This act
! Of friendship was followed up later
by Mr.. Washburne's efforts in Sc,
curing the legislation making Grant
4 first lieutenant general and after
ward general OF the armies. Mr..
/ Washburne was prominent in the impeach-
1 ment proceedings against Andrew John
| son, and was Unidentified with all tho i'm
portant legislation OF period covering
i merous railroad subsidies and especially
| the Pacific railroad legislation changing
the government lien from first to second
/ mortgages. When Gen. Grant became
1. president he appointed Mr.. Washburne
i secretary OF state. But his health failing
him shortly afterward, Mr.. Washburne
was forced to resign early in 1863. He
i was then made minister to France.
I, On the breaking out OF the war between
4 France and Prussia Minister Washburne
came into immediate prominence and
found himself called on to perform the
most exacting and laborions duties, as
I well as some OF the most delicate known
4 to foreign Diplomacy. The archives OF the
i German embassy were turned over to
4 Minister Washbur and the latter's ser
| vices were requested as a matter ofnation-
al hospitality in securing the safe trans
1 portation through the French lines OF the
4 80, 600 German residents OF Paris. whole.
Il sired to return to their native country
on the breaking out OF hostilities, in accord
ance with the terms OF international
comfy. This required the utmost tact
I and rare abilities as diplomat preserv-
!; ing friendly relations with France while
performing this gracious service to Ger.
4 mo - c1, lad